Shrub rose plant named ‘BAIcker’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of landscape shrub rose plant is provided which forms on a recurrent basis in clusters attractive single rich red blossoms suffused with rosy pink having a near white to yellow eye. The plant exhibits a compact, upright and bushy growth habit, glossy medium green foliage, and excellent tolerance to Black Spot and Powdery Mildew. The attractive medium green glossy foliage contrasts nicely with the red blossom coloration. A tough rose plant of good hardiness is provided. The plant can be grown to advantage as a specimen, border planting, or as a mass planting.

Botanical commercial classification: Rosa hybrida/Shrub Rose Plant.

Varietal denomination: cv. ‘BAIcker’.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The new variety of Rosa hybrida landscape shrub rose plant was createdat Yamhill, Oreg. during 1993 by artificial pollination wherein twoparents were crossed which previously had been studied in the hope thatthey would contribute the desired characteristics. The female parent(i.e., the seed parent) was the ‘Meipitac’ variety (U.S. Plant Pat. No.7,783). The male parent (i.e., the pollen parent) was the ‘Chuckles’variety (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 1,608). The ‘Meipitac’ variety is marketedunder the CAREFREE WONDER trademark. The parentage of the new varietycan be summarized as follows:‘Meipitac’×‘Chuckles’.

The seeds resulting from the above pollination were sown and plants wereobtained which were physically and biologically different from eachother. Selective study resulted in the identification during 1996 of asingle plant of the new variety having the distinctive ornamentalcharacteristics hereafter described.

It was found that the new variety of the present invention:

-   -   (a) exhibits a compact, upright and bushy growth habit,    -   (b) forms recurrently in clusters attractive rich medium red        blossoms suffused with rosy pink having a near white to yellow        eye,    -   (c) forms glossy medium green adult foliage,    -   (d) displays excellent tolerance to Black Spot and Powdery        Mildew; and    -   (e) is particularly well suited for growing as attractive        ornamentation in parks and gardens.

The red-purple buds open to rich medium red to light pink blooms thatcontrast nicely with the medium green glossy foliage. A tough shrub roseplant having good hardiness is provided.

The new variety well meets the needs of the horticultural industry. Itcan be grown to advantage anywhere in the landscape where attractiveornamentation is desired. The distinctive blossoms are displayedthroughout the summer on a recurrent bloom cycle. The plant can be grownas a specimen, border planting, or as a mass ground cover.

The new variety can be readily distinguished from its parentalvarieties. More specifically, the ‘Meipitac’ variety forms pink doubleblossoms having approximately 26 petals, and the ‘Chuckles’ variety is aFloribunda rose that forms deep pink blossoms.

Additionally, the new variety can be readily distinguished from ‘NearlyWild’ variety (non-patented in the United States) and the ‘KORgosa’variety (non-patented in the United States). More specifically, the‘Nearly Wild’ plant commonly assumes a taller height of approximately 80cm at the end of the growing season, and forms larger blossoms having adiameter of approximately 9 cm that are medium rose pink on the observeand light pink on the reverse and comprise only five petals. The‘KORgosa’ plant commonly assumes a much taller height of approximately1.65 m at the end of the growing season, and forms smaller blossomshaving a diameter of approximately 6.5 cm that are deep red with a whiteeye on the obverse and medium red on the reverse and comprise only fivepetals. The ‘KORgosa’ variety sometimes is known as the ‘Robusta’variety.

The new variety has been found to undergo asexual propagation by buddingon an understock beginning in April 1994 and by the rooting of cuttings.‘Dr. Huey’ rootstock was used during the budding. Such asexualpropagation by these techniques at Yamhill, Oreg., St. Paul, Minn., andat Phoenix, Ariz. has shown that the characteristics of the new varietyare stable and are strictly transmissible by such asexual propagationfrom one generation to another. The new variety grows well on its ownroots.

Initially the new plant was designated 93H42-1P. The new varietysubsequently has been named the ‘BAIcker’ variety, and currently isbeing marketed while using the GARDEN JUBILEE and FIRECRACKERtrademarks.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs show as nearly true as it is reasonablypossible to make the same in color illustrations of this character,typical specimens of the new variety. The rose plants of the new varietyhad been propagated by the rooting of cuttings, were approximately twoand three years of age, and were being grown outdoors at St. Paul, Minn.and at Yamhill, Oreg. during the seasons of 2002 and 2003.

FIG. 1 illustrates typical plants with blossoms in various stages ofopening and foliage of the new variety.

FIG. 2 illustrates a closer view of typical buds and fully open flowersof the new variety in greater detail.

FIG. 3 illustrates at the top typical blossom petals with the uppersurfaces being shown at the left and the under surfaces being shown atthe right as well as sepals, pistils and stamens, and at the bottomtypical buds in various stages of opening.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The chart used in the identification of the colors is that of The RoyalHorticultural Society (R.H.S. Colour Chart). Common color terms are tobe accorded their ordinary dictionary significance. The description isbased on the observation of two and three year-old plants while grownoutdoors on their own roots during June and July 2002 and 2003 at St.Paul, Minn., and May 2003 at Phoenix, Ariz.

-   Botanical classification: Rosa hybrida, var. ‘BAIcker’.-   Class: Landscape Shrub.-   Plant:    -   -   Height.—Approximately 60 cm on average at the end of the            growing season.        -   Width.—Approximately 80 cm on average at the end of the            growing season.        -   Habit.—Compact, upright, bushy, and oval to rounded.-   Branches:    -   -   Color.—Young stems: Yellow-Green Group 147B with            Greyed-Purple Group 184B. Adult wood: Yellow-Green Group            146B.        -   Thorns.—Size: commonly approximately 0.4 cm in length on            average with prickles on the younger stems. Color:            Greyed-Purple Group 185C.-   Leaves:    -   -   Stipules.—Generally parallel with the auricle facing            outward.        -   Petioles.—Upper surface: Yellow-Green Group 146C. Under            surface: Yellow-Green Group 146C suffused with Greyed-Purple            Group 184B.        -   Leaflets.—Number: 3, 5 (most often), and 7. Shape: ovate            with a rounded base and an acuminate tip. Serration:            serrulate. Texture: bears a glossy finish and is physically            firm. General appearance: medium green with a glossy surface            when mature. Color (young foliage): Upper surface:            Yellow-Green Group 146B blended with Greyed-Purple Group            184A and 184B. Under surface: Yellow-Green Group 146B            blended with Greyed-Purple Group 184A and 184B. Color (adult            foliage): Upper surface: Green Group 137A and 138A. Under            surface: Green Group 138A.-   Inflorescence:    -   -   Number of flowers.—Commonly approximately 21 blooms on            average per cluster on a lateral stem.        -   Peduncle.—Yellow-Green Group 146A with highlights of            Greyed-Purple Group 184B in coloration, and the length is            approximately 1.0 cm on average.        -   Sepals.—Upper surface: Yellow-Green Group 147B with some            pubescence. Under surface: Yellow-Green Group 147A suffused            with Greyed-Purple Group 185B. Size: approximately 2.75 cm            in length on average.        -   Buds.—Shape: generally pointed. Size: medium. Length:            approximately 2.75 cm on average. Diameter: approximately            1.75 cm on average. Color: Upper petal surface: Red-Purple            Group 60B blending to Red-Purple Group 61C to Yellow Group            1B. Under petal surface: Red-Purple Group 60A blending with            highlights of Red-Purple Group 63C to Yellow Group 2C.        -   Flower.—Shape: single. Diameter: approximately 7.5 cm on            average. Color (when opening begins): Upper surface:            Red-Purple Group 60A with highlights of Red-Purple Group 63B            to Yellow Group 2D. Under surface: Red-Purple Group 65C            suffused with Red-Purple Group 62A to Yellow Group 2C. Color            (when blooming): Upper surface: Red-Purple Group 60A with            highlights of Red-Purple Group 63B to Yellow Group 2D. Under            surface: Red-Purple Group 64C with highlights of Red-Purple            Group 64A and 64B to Yellow Group 11D. Color (at end of            blooming): Upper surface: Red-Purple Group 63A. suffused            with Red-Purple Group 60B to Yellow Group 11D. Under            surface: Red-Purple Group 65D suffused with Red-Purple Group            63A to Red-Purple Group 63C to Yellow Group 11D. Color            (basal petal spot): near white to Yellow Group 2D.            Fragrance: slight rose. Lasting quality: the blossoms            commonly last approximately 10 to 14 days on average            depending upon the temperature and sunlight exposure. Petal            number: approximately 10 under normal growing conditions.            Petal shape: generally rounded. Petal drop: commonly the            petals detach cleanly at full blossom maturity. Anthers:            Yellow-Orange Group 17A. Filament number: commonly            approximately 76 on average. Filament color: Yellow Group            13B. Pistils: approximately 27 on average. Stigmas:            Yellow-Green Group 1B in coloration. Styles: Yellow Group 6A            in coloration. Receptacle: separate and free. Hip shape:            oval. Hip length: approximately 1.5 cm. Hip width:            approximately 1.25 cm. Seeds: medium brown in coloration,            and approximately 4.0 mm in length.-   Development:    -   -   Vegetation.—Vigorous, and compact.        -   Blooming.—Heavy in June and on a recurrent bloom cycle            thereafter.        -   Resistance to diseases.—Excellent tolerance to Black Spot,            and Powdery Mildew.        -   Hardiness zone.—U.S.D.A. Hardiness Zone Nos. 4 to 9.

1. A new and distinct variety of landscape shrub rose plantcharacterized by the following combination of characteristics: (a)exhibits a compact, upright and bushy growth habit, (b) formsrecurrently in clusters attractive rich medium red blossoms suffusedwith rosy pink having a near white to yellow eye, (c) forms glossymedium green adult foliage, (d) displays excellent tolerance to BlackSpot and Powdery Mildew; and (e) is particularly well suited for growingas attractive ornamentation in parks and gardens; substantially asherein shown and described.